MPs had criticised the lack of clarity in the proposals to overhaul the education and training system in England as part of wider NHS reforms.

They backed plans to replace the ‘anachronistic and anomalous’ way in which education and training providers were paid with a tariff system whereby money followed the student.

However, they criticised the ‘slender evidence of progress in converting this desirable policy into a system that will work in practice’, and called for a greater sense of urgency, given that implementation was due to take place in April 2013.

The BMA, which gave evidence to the inquiry, agreed with its conclusions on the amount of uncertainty over the changes.